Today MLS announced the national television games for MLS First Kick the weekend of March 10th. Sporting KC isn't going to be on national television for their season opener, but the announcement does narrow the field for who Sporting KC could play on the first weekend. The national broadcasts kick off on Saturday on TSN in Canada as one of last year's expansion sides, Vancouver, take on this year's expansion side, Montreal in Vancouver. On Sunday NBC joins the action with their first MLS game. They will have Dallas hosting New York in their opener. And before the attendance bashing starts, remember Dallas sold out their opener last year. Chivas will host Houston in the Galavision for that weekend. The first weekend rounds out with Portland hosting Philadelphia on Monday.
What the schedule does mean is that IF KC has their first kick that weekend, the game will be Saturday March 10th. The schedule leaves 5 potential opponents for KC to play in the opening weekend. KC could find themselves playing Colorado, DC, LA, San Jose, or Seattle. There is also still the chance that KC will be the one team that has a bye the first weekend. If so, KC's first kick will be on March 17th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
Other teams that could still be scheduled on the road for opening weekend along with KC would include Chicago, Columbus, New England, Salt Lake, and Toronto. One of those teams will be a bye. I have a feeling KC will either be going to play Colorado or San Jose on the opening weekend, just a feeling, although I'd like to see KC play Seattle, if only because I have a free place to stay.
Seems we are seeing some of the recent playoff match ups popping up as opening day matchs for next season. With that said, my prediction is we play at Colorado. Their fans will come out wanting the Rapids to beat us up. Nothing like getting the fans pumped up about beating someone who used you in the playoffs. And I think that would be a good match to start the season with — much better than San Jose or even those Sith Lords in Seattle.
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